Lexical Summary deber: Pestilence, plague Original Word: דֶּבֶר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance murrain, pestilence, plague From dabar (in the sense of destroying); a pestilence -- murrain, pestilence, plague. see HEBREW dabar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom dabar Definition pestilence NASB Translation pestilence (38), plague (10), thorns (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs דֶּ֫בֶר49 noun masculine pestilence (compare Arabic  ,  , departure, death) — Exodus 9:3 +; דָּ֑בֶר Habakkuk 3:5; suffix דְּבָרֶיךָ Hosea 13:14; — 1 plague, pestilence, in General Exodus 5:3; Exodus 9:15; Numbers 14:12 (J) Leviticus 26:25 (H) Deuteronomy 28:21; 2 Samuel 24:13,15 (+ 2 Samuel 24:15 a ᵐ5 We Dr) = 1 Chronicles 21:12,14; 1 Kings 8:37 2Chronicles 6:28; 7:13; 20:9; Psalm 91:3; Psalm 91:6; Jeremiah 14:12 16t. Jeremiah; Ezekiel 5:12 11t. Ezekiel; Hosea 13:14; Amos 4:10; Habakkuk 3:5. Read וּבַדָּ֑בֶר, or the like, 1 Samuel 4:8, for ᵑ0 בַּמִּדְבָּר, We Klo Dr. 2 cattle-plague, murrain Exodus 9:3 (J) = Psalm 78:50. Topical Lexicon Concept and Range of Meaning דֶּבֶר is the ordinary Hebrew term for “plague” or “pestilence,” denoting a divinely directed outbreak of fatal disease that strikes people, livestock, or an entire land. It is never used of a chance epidemic; every appearance portrays Yahweh as the active Subject, either sending, withholding, or delivering from the plague. Canonical Distribution (≈ 49 references) • Torah: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy (≈ 16) Covenantal Warning and Discipline From the outset plague is tied to covenant accountability. In the Sinai legislation the threat of דֶּבֶר stands beside sword and famine as the climactic sanction for persistent rebellion. Leviticus 26:25 sets the pattern: “Though you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you”. Deuteronomy 28:21 repeats the warning for the new generation poised to enter Canaan. Exodus and the Revelation of God’s Sovereignty During the plagues of Egypt דֶּבֶר targets livestock: “Behold, the hand of the LORD will bring a severe plague on your livestock” (Exodus 9:3). Pharaoh is told that a single stroke of plague could have wiped out Egypt altogether (Exodus 9:15). Thus דֶּבֶר showcases the covenant God judging false gods and liberating His people. Leadership, Intercession, and National Sin When Israel rebels in the wilderness, Yahweh threatens, “I will strike them with a plague and destroy them” (Numbers 14:12). Moses’ intercession averts total destruction, underscoring the mediatorial role of God-appointed leaders. Centuries later David faces the same word after the census: “So the LORD sent a plague on Israel… and seventy thousand men… died” (2 Samuel 24:15). David’s repentance and sacrifice halt the plague at the future temple site, foreshadowing atonement by substitution. Temple Theology and Communal Prayer Solomon incorporates דֶּבֶר into the temple dedication prayer: “When famine or plague comes to the land… whatever prayer… each one prays… then hear in heaven” (1 Kings 8:37-39). The Chronicler repeats the plea (2 Chronicles 6:28; 7:13), directing every generation to seek God’s face when plague appears. Wisdom and Assurance Psalm 91 twice contrasts covenant curse with covenant shelter: “Surely He will deliver you… from the deadly pestilence” (91:3); “nor the plague that stalks in darkness” (91:6). The righteous find refuge, not by denying plague’s reality, but by trusting the covenant LORD. Prophetic Courtroom Language Jeremiah and Ezekiel join דֶּבֶר with sword and famine to announce judgment on unrepentant Judah and surrounding nations (Jeremiah 24:10; Ezekiel 14:21). The triad (sometimes quartet, adding wild beasts) frames plague as one facet of comprehensive divine judgment. Habakkuk 3:5 poetically pictures plague as God’s forerunner in His theophanic march: “Plague went before Him”. Redemptive Trajectory Plague’s purpose is ultimately restorative. Each Old Testament episode presses the need for a mediator who both bears judgment and secures deliverance. The typology matures in Jesus Christ, who “healed every disease” (Matthew 4:23) and, by His cross, absorbed covenant curses so that repentant believers receive mercy rather than pestilence. Pastoral and Ministry Implications 1. Corporate Responsibility: דֶּבֶר falls on societies, demanding collective repentance, intercession, and ethical reform. Key Texts for Study and Teaching Exodus 5:3; 9:3-15 Jeremiah 14:12; 24:10; 27:8, 13 Forms and Transliterations בְּדֶ֣בֶר בְּדֶ֥בֶר בַּדֶּ֖בֶר בַּדֶּ֣בֶר בַּדֶּ֥בֶר בַּדָּ֑בֶר בַדֶּ֖בֶר בדבר דְבָרֶיךָ֜ דֶ֙בֶר֙ דֶּ֖בֶר דֶּ֙בֶר֙ דֶּ֣בֶר דֶּ֤בֶר דֶּ֥בֶר דָּ֑בֶר דבר דבריך הַדֶּ֣בֶר הַדֶּ֣בֶר ׀ הַדָּ֑בֶר הדבר וְדֶ֙בֶר֙ וְדֶ֣בֶר וְדֶ֥בֶר וְהַדֶּ֥בֶר וְהַדָּ֑בֶר וָדֶ֔בֶר וָדֶ֖בֶר וּבַדֶּ֔בֶר וּבַדֶּ֖בֶר וּבַדֶּ֜בֶר וּבַדָּ֑בֶר וּבַדָּ֑בֶר֙ וּבַדָּֽבֶר׃ וּלְדָֽבֶר׃ וּמִדָּ֑בֶר ובדבר ובדבר׃ ודבר והדבר ולדבר׃ ומדבר לַדֶּ֥בֶר לדבר מִ֭דֶּבֶר מִדֶּ֥בֶר מדבר bad·dā·ḇer bad·de·ḇer ḇad·de·ḇer baddāḇer badDaver baddeḇer ḇaddeḇer badDever bə·ḏe·ḇer bəḏeḇer beDever dā·ḇer dāḇer Daver ḏə·ḇā·re·ḵā de·ḇer ḏe·ḇer ḏəḇāreḵā deḇer ḏeḇer devareiCha Dever had·dā·ḇer had·de·ḇer haddāḇer hadDaver haddeḇer hadDever lad·de·ḇer laddeḇer ladDever mid·de·ḇer middeḇer midDever ū·ḇad·dā·ḇer ū·ḇad·de·ḇer ū·lə·ḏā·ḇer ū·mid·dā·ḇer ūḇaddāḇer ūḇaddeḇer ūləḏāḇer uleDaver ūmiddāḇer umidDaver uvadDaver uvadDever vadDever vaDever veDever vehadDaver vehadDever wā·ḏe·ḇer wāḏeḇer wə·ḏe·ḇer wə·had·dā·ḇer wə·had·de·ḇer wəḏeḇer wəhaddāḇer wəhaddeḇerLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 5:3 HEB: פֶּ֨ן־ יִפְגָּעֵ֔נוּ בַּדֶּ֖בֶר א֥וֹ בֶחָֽרֶב׃ NAS: He will fall upon us with pestilence or KJV: lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword. INT: otherwise will fall pestilence or the sword Exodus 9:3 Exodus 9:15 Leviticus 26:25 Numbers 14:12 Deuteronomy 28:21 2 Samuel 24:13 2 Samuel 24:15 1 Kings 8:37 1 Chronicles 21:12 1 Chronicles 21:14 2 Chronicles 6:28 2 Chronicles 7:13 2 Chronicles 20:9 Psalm 78:50 Psalm 91:3 Psalm 91:6 Jeremiah 14:12 Jeremiah 21:6 Jeremiah 21:7 Jeremiah 21:9 Jeremiah 24:10 Jeremiah 27:8 Jeremiah 27:13 Jeremiah 28:8 49 Occurrences |
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